Racist Recording Lands F Bar Owner In Hot Seat

Audio Alleged To Be A Houston LGBT Club Owner Making Racist Comments About African American Community Floods Social Media

(Updated at 09:16 P.M.)

(HOUSTON) — A racist digital audio recording alleged to be an owner of a Houston LGBT club has flooded social media this afternoon. The recording posted to YouTube Friday evening is only seven seconds long. It captures a voice alleged to belong to Irwin Palchick, a LGBT nightclub owner in Montrose.

News of the recording was first reported by AshtonPWoods.com, a civil rights news blog that centers focus on the #BlackLivesMatter movement in Houston, Texas. Woods is the co-founder and lead organizer for BLM’s Houston chapter.

“N****” You can hear the male voice say. The audio rambles before the voice returns, “I said N**** before he hit me in the face.” There are no other voices heard on the recording. There are no indications where the recording was made or how old or new it is.

No official word from F Bar, or it’s owner relating to the audio. Palchick did take to social media denying the audio is of him. “Absolutely not me,” Palchick commented. “I embrace all,” a second comment said.

The release of the YouTube recording has been met with mixed reaction in the community.

“Everyone knows there are certain things NO one should EVER say. Anger shouldn’t make you say something so deeply rooted in racism,” a person wrote on the article. “It says a lot about someone who’s first choice of words would be such a word. This word shouldn’t flow out of someone’s mouth with ease. Racism is a choice.”

Another viewpoint came in the form of support. “I’ve been known Irwin Palchick for 30 year’s plus. Racist would never be a word I could use to describe him,” one supporter on Facebook said.

This scandal is just the latest in a series for the club. Once the #1 LGBT nightclub destination in Houston, F Bar announced last week it would be canceling their Tuesday and Wednesday night drag show. An announcement that some in the LGBT community took as a sign of ‘hard times.’

(Update) Nightclub owner Irwin Palchick admits the voice on the recording is in fact his voice, “But it was after I had been assaulted on or around Easter Sunday.” Palchick explains he was in his office with a small group of people, and the recording does not reflect the full conversation; was altered and taken out of context to make him appear racist.